Suspension MTB specialist Whyte to launch range of road commuter bikes

In what is probably the teasiest product teaser announcement we've ever had, Whyte – the UK bike company best known for their high end mountain bikes – today announced they are launching a new range of commuter bikes this summer. Oh, and they sent us a pic of one of their new models, the Portobello to prove it. Well, as you can see it's more a pic of a bit of one of their new models.

What we can say looking at it is that it's aluminium, and shows a nice attention to both detail and practicallity. We like the Union Jack seat clamp and that white line, but we like even more the fact that is comes with the necessary holes to fit a rack and mudguards… that's assuming what's on offer at the front is replicated at the back. That matt paint job looks good and tough too and that deep section rim suggests that the Portobello at least is aimed at the hipster end of the commuting market.

Whyte founder, Jon Whyte started out designing suspension for F1 cars and made his name in the bike world with his innovative suspension designs on bikes like the PRST-1. It'll be interesting to see if any of that suspension knowledge is brought to bear on his commuter bikes…?

Right, we're off to wring some more information out of the Whyte marketing guy, literally if necessary, and we'll report with more pics and info asap.